Dear Parent/Carers

The Government has made the returning of face to face education in schools a national priority.  So returning children and young people to face to face education is part of the first step in easing lockdown.

The guidance for return to face to face education identifies that existing previous measures and a new range of new measures need to be in place to minimise the spread of COVID – 19. The risk of transmission will be reduced by implementing the system of controls endorsed by Public Health and the Department for Education.

We implemented a range of measures last term to reduce risk of transmission in school. Staggered starts and finish of year group bubbles, ventilation of rooms and corridors, one way systems, staggered break times and lunchtimes, wearing face coverings when moving around school and communal areas and year bubbles. We will continue with these practices this term. Students will be working in the same Year Bubble Zones on their return.

Staged Return from 8th March

The Government expects all children to attend school as they were in the Autumn Term.

Government guidance shared this week advises that all secondary and college students will take coronavirus (COVID-19) tests as they return to the classroom from Monday 8th March.  Schools and colleges will have discretion on how to phase the return of their students over the week beginning 8th March to allow them to be tested on return.

All school bus services will be reinstated from the 8th March.

This is the plan for year bubbles returning from the week beginning 8th March

8th March  – Monday Year 11
9th March  – Tuesday Year 10
10th March – Wednesday Year 9
11th March – Thursday Year 8
12th March – Friday Year 7

 

Rapid Testing – Asymptomatic Testing

 

Rapid testing is a vital part of the Government’s plan to suppress the COVID -19 virus, in education and childcare settings across society. This type of testing means that asymptomatic people who might otherwise continue to attend education settings are identified and self-isolate.

Since January we have had a rapid testing regime in place for regular staff testing. The latest Government Guidance released this week there is a strategy to test all students on their return to school.  The staged return is in place to allow for all students to be tested on the day they return to school.

The guidance from the Public Health and the Department for Education is that we are to implement an initial programme of 3 tests in school.

Following the 3 tests conducted in school students will be provided with 2 rapid tests to use each week at home.  Staff in school will also continue to be provided with 2 tests to use at home each week.

The aim of having 3 tests in school is to help students learn how to effectively self-test in preparation for testing at home.

Latest guidance

  • When a student tests positive when in school using a rapid test – lateral flow they do not need to get a PCR Test. They need to self-isolate for 10 days with their family bubble. In school close contacts / bubbles will be identified.
  • When students test positive at home using a rapid test – lateral flow and they do need to get a confirmation PCR Test. They need to self-isolate for 10 days with their family bubble. In school close contacts / bubbles will be identified.

The schedule for the 3 tests by year group

Initial 3 Tests in school Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Year 11 Monday 8th March Monday 15th March Monday 22nd March
Year 10 Tuesday 9th March Tuesday 16th March Tuesday 23rd March
Year 9 Wednesday 10th March Wednesday 17th March Wednesday 24th March
Year 8 Thursday 11th March Thursday 18th March Thursday 25th March
Year 7 Friday 12th March Friday 19th March Friday 26th March

 

Key Worker and Vulnerable Students

Key worker and vulnerable students will be continue to attend school every day through the staggered return week beginning 8th March

Face Covering – in classrooms and teaching areas.

The new Government guidance states that for a limited time period that they recommend the use of face coverings in classrooms and other teaching spaces, unless wearing a face covering would impact on the ability to take part in exercise or strenuous activity, for example PE lessons or those who are exempt from wearing face coverings as set out in Government guidance.

We want students to stay in school as long as possible on their return and to aid the reduction of transmission in school and its impact on isolating year bubbles.

Following this guidance from 8th March it will be compulsory for all students to wear face coverings when in classrooms, teaching areas, communal areas and when walking around the school site, unless the student is medically exempt from wearing face coverings.

I know this is not ideal but it is essential if we are to protect our students, staff and families as much as possible and we really appreciate your support.  When the guidance changes we will update our face covering policy and practice.

Learning – In school

Learning in and the impact of covid 19 restrictions

From the 8th March onward we want all students with chrome books or devices to bring them into school as part of our Bring Your Own Device digital learning strategy.

This academic year we have been delivering lessons through Google Classroom when in school but also when at home. In school during autumn term students were working on paper and at times submitting work for assessment through Google Classroom. Due to the virus and risk assessments staff are not allowed to collect work at the end of lessons to mark as we may have done pre COVID.

During this latest lockdown we have developed the use of Google Classroom further and have a Shevington Lesson format.  We have also been able to assess work more effectively through Google Classroom as most students are working digitally. This has enabled more effective feedback and tracking of learning and understanding.   Over the last few weeks we have distributed over 400 chrome books through our leasing scheme.  We want all students who have Chromebooks for school to bring their device into school.  We also have our Bring Your Own Device Scheme in place and would encourage students to bring a device into school.

Work will be set in Google classroom for all lessons and students will be able to work on paper or digitally in class.  The gains from the Google platform is that staff can see the work they are producing live in the lesson and give direct feedback. This is currently difficult when students work on paper as staff can’t walk around the class to check and support as we did prior to the pandemic.

Google Guardian can be used by parents to monitor engagement and feedback.

To help teachers plan we would be grateful if you all parents would complete this form to confirm if your child will be bringing their own device into school. Click here for the form.

Parents must complete the Bring Your Own Device Permission form before the student can access and log onto the school systems in school.  The BYOD form is available on the school website or via this link.

Learning – Remote Learning

 

When students will self-isolate they will need to access lessons via Google Classroom.  All work needs to be submitted via the Google Classroom Suite.  Google Guardian can be used by parents to monitor engagement and feedback.

The school day will continue as it was in Autumn Term.

COVID-19 School Day from March 2021

Year 7 Year8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11
Coaching

 

8.30-8.45 8.30-8.45 8.30-8.45 8.30-8.45 8.30-8.45
Reg

 

8.45-9.00 8.45-9.00 8.45-9.00 8.45-9.00 8.45-9.00
Period 1

45 mins

9.00-9.45 9.00-9:45 9.00-9:45 9.00-9:45 9.00-9:45
Period 2

 

Break

9:45-11:00

 

10:45-11:00

9:45-11:00

 

10:30-10:45

9:45-11:00

 

10:15-10:30

9:45-11:00

 

10:00-10.15

9:45-11:00

 

9:45-10.00

Period 3

45 mins

11.00-11.45

 

11:00-11.45 11:00-11.45

 

11:00-11.45

 

11:00-11:45

 

Period 4

1hr 50mins

Lunch

25 mins

11.45-2.00

 

1.35-2.00

11.45-2.00

 

1.10-1.35

11.45-2.00

 

12.45-1:10

 

11.45-2.00

 

12.20-12.45

 

11.45-2.00

 

11.55-12.20

Period 5 2.00-3.00 2.00-2.55 2.00-2.50 2.00-2.45 2.00-2.40

 

Please click below to download letter

Headteacher Update – Student Return